Zambales lass wins Miss Grand Philippines 2024

Lifestyle & Entertainment

A PAGEANT veteran earned the right to represent the Philippines in the upcoming Miss Grand International pageant in Bangkok, Thailand.

Christine Juliane “CJ” Opiaza, a 26-year-old candidate from Castillejos, Zambales, was crowned Miss Grand Philippines 2024 on Sunday night, September 29, at the Newport Performing Arts Theatre in Pasay City.

Opiaza bested 19 other candidates, having been able to graciously answer the question and answer portion.

Opiaza was asked by TV executive Jeffrey Remigio, if winning beauty queens deserve also rewards and incentives like the Olympic athletes get from the government, private sector, and other established brands.

The newly crowned queen replied “Being able to stand here is already a reward for us.I believe we don't actually need an incentive or a monetary award to be able to be seen and to be heard. Just the very platform of this is already championing the lives of the people who believe in us, the people who we inspire. And so, I hope all the beauty queens here will continue their legacy to push for their causes and to present themselves around the world."

Aside from bringing the crown, Opiaza also received several special awards like the Best in Swimsuit, Miss Photogenic, Miss Mestiza, Miss Multimedia, and Miss Aqua Boracay.

As a pageant veteran, Opiaza has already exposed herself to pageantry at an early age. She joined but did not place in the Binibining Pilipinas in 2022. She also joined Miss Universe 2023 where she wound up first runner-up.

Apart from Opiaza, Pampanga’s Sophia Bianca Santos was also crowned as the Universal Woman 2025 while Anna Margaret Mercado of Quirino Province was named Miss Teen International Philippines 2025.

First runner-up is Jubilee Therese Acosta of Manila and the second runner-up is Alexandra Mae Rosales of Laguna.

Included in the top 10 were Selena Antonio-Reyes of Pasig City, Jenesse Viktoria Mejia of Pangasinan, Patricia McGee of Zambales, Geralyn Basto de Klerke of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental and Julianne Rose Reyes of Cavite.(LAO)